Prediction parameter inheritance for 3d video coding

ABSTRACT

A three-dimensional (3D) video codec encodes multiple views of a 3D video, each including texture and depth components. The encoders of the codec encode video blocks of their respective views based on a set of prediction parameters, such as quad-tree split flags, prediction modes, partition sizes, motion fields, inter directions, reference indices, luma intra modes, and chroma intra modes. The prediction parameters may be inherited across different views and different ones of the texture and depth components.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 61/709,688, filed Oct. 4, 2012.

BACKGROUND

Three-dimensional (3D) video includes multiple views, each taken from adifferent camera perspective or angle. Each view includes a texturecomponent (also referred to as a “texture view”) and a depth mapcomponent. 3D video encoding includes encoding the multiple textureviews and their associated depth maps, and then multiplexing themultiple encoded texture views and depth maps into a bit stream. Such 3Dvideo encoding (or compression) employs different types of videoprediction, such as inter and intra prediction, to eliminate redundancyin the texture and depth map components. Such prediction is performedusing a set of prediction parameters to control the prediction. Current3D coding standards and related techniques are inflexible andrestrictive with regard to the conditions under which such predictionparameters may be inherited or passed between different contexts, suchas different views and their corresponding texture/depth map components,to facilitate more efficient encoding and decoding processes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an example relationship between a largestcoding unit (LCU), coding units (CUs), prediction units (PUs), andtransform units (TUs).

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example three-dimensional (3D) videocoding (3DVC) codec system in which prediction parameter inheritance(PPI) may be used to encode and decode 3D video.

FIG. 3 is an expanded block diagram of a sender side of the codec systemfrom FIG. 2, including a multi-view encoder, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4A is a detailed block diagram of a two-view encoder, includingencoders of FIG. 3, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4B is an illustration of PPI syntax that may be embedded into anencoded bitstream, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a detailed block diagram of an example two-view decoder systemcorresponding to the two-view encoder system of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of an example generated disparity vector,generated by a decoder of FIG. 5, to determine a reference blockcorresponding to a current block to be decoded in inter-view PPI.

FIG. 7A is a block diagram indicating PPI in various directions betweendifferent encoders of FIGS. 3 and 4, and the decoders of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7B is a series of block diagrams (a), (b), and (c) that illustrateinheritance of intra, inter, and hybrid prediction modes betweensub-blocks of a video block.

FIG. 7C is a block diagram of another example PPI from a hybrid-encodedsource block by a current block.

FIG. 8A is an example illustration of PPI at different levels of acoding tree hierarchy, namely, from a large CU to a small CU.

FIG. 8B another example illustration of PPI at different levels of acoding tree hierarchy, namely, from a small CU to a large CU.

FIG. 9A is a flowchart of an example method of encoding multi-viewtexture and depth video/components using PPI.

FIG. 9B is a flowchart of an example method expanding on the encoding ofthe method of FIG. 9A.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an example method of decoding encodedmulti-view texture and depth video/components using PPI.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an example computer system configured toperform PPI embodiments in an encoder and a decoder.

FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment of a system in which PPI equippedencoder and PPI equipped decoder embodiments may be implemented.

FIG. 13 illustrates embodiments of a small form factor device in whichthe system of FIG. 12 may be embodied.

In the drawings, the leftmost digit(s) of a reference number identifiesthe drawing in which the reference number first appears.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Three-Dimensional (3D) Video Coding (3DVC) is a video compressionstandard that targets a variety of 3D displays. 3DVC is underdevelopment in the International Organization forStandardization/International Electrotechnical Commission (ISO/IEC)Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG). Two main branches ofstandardization include High Efficient Video Coding (HEVC), and 3DVCbased on conventional H.264/AVC. The terms “coding” and “encoding” asused herein are synonymous and interchangeable. Described below areembodiments directed to prediction parameter inheritance (PPI) as usedin multi-view 3D video encoding and decoding environments. Theembodiments are described in connection with HEVC, although any othervideo standard may be used. Accordingly, an overview of relevant HEVCprotocols is now presented to form a basis for the subsequentlydescribed PPI encoding and decoding embodiments.

HEVC Protocol Overview

To represent video content with various resolutions, HEVC defines atriplet of units, including a coding unit (CU), a prediction unit (PU),and a transform unit (TU). The CU is the basic unit of compression, andis broadly analogous to the concept of a macroblock of the H.264standard, but is more flexible. The PU is a unit of inter/intraprediction and there may be multiple PUs in a single CU. The TU is aunit of transform, and can include one or more PUs. Accordingly, a CUmay include multiple PUs and TUs that are associated with that CU.

A video comprises a sequence of video frames or pictures. Each picturemay be partitioned into one or more slices. Under HVEC, each slice maybe divided into a sequence of tree blocks, or largest coding units(LCUs), that include both luma and chroma samples. An LCU has a similarpurpose as a macroblock. A slice includes a number of consecutivenon-overlapping LCUs in coding order. Each LCU may be split orsubdivided into a hierarchy of CUs according to a recursive quadtreestructure. For example, an LCU, as a root node of a quadtree, may besplit into four child nodes, and each child node may in turn be a parentnode and be split into another four child nodes. The splitting isaccomplished using quadtree split flags. A final, un-split child orterminal node, as a leaf node of the quadtree, comprises a coding node,i.e., a coding video block. A size of the CU may range from 8×8 pixelsup to the size of the LCU with a maximum of 64×64 pixels or greater.Syntax data associated with a coded bitstream may define the CUsplitting, including a quadtree structure, a maximum number of times anLCU may be split, and sizes of the coding nodes.

Prediction methods are specified for terminal CUs that are not furthersplit, i.e., the leaf nodes (coding nodes) of the CU hierarchicalquadtree. The CU leaf nodes are split into basic units of prediction,referred to as the PUs. The PU specifies the method of prediction.Specifically, two primary parameters specify the prediction methodassociated with the PU: a prediction type/mode, and a PU splitting. Theprediction mode (also referred to herein as the coding mode) is selectedfrom one of intra prediction, inter prediction, and skip, for example.Intra prediction involves prediction of a current video block relativeto other video blocks in the same picture. Inter prediction involvesprediction of a current video block relative to temporally-spaced, i.e.,earlier and/or later, adjacent pictures. A PU defining inter predictionfor a current block includes a motion vector relative to a referenceblock. The data defining the motion vector may describe, for example, ahorizontal component of the motion vector, a vertical component of themotion vector, a resolution for the motion vector (e.g., one-quarterpixel precision or one-eighth pixel precision), a reference picture towhich the motion vector points, and/or a reference picture list (e.g.,List 0, List 1, or List C) for the motion vector.

A TU is used for the transform and quantization processes. A CU havingone or more PUs may also include one or more transform units (TUs).Following prediction, residual values corresponding to the PU may becalculated. The residual values comprise pixel difference values betweena current block of video data and a predictive block of video data. Theresidual values may be transformed into transform coefficients,quantized, and scanned using the TUs to produce serialized transformcoefficients for entropy coding. The term “video block” or simply“block” is construed broadly herein depending on the context to mean anyof (i) video information, at any level of division, to be encoded, (ii)encoded video information, at any level of division, to be decoded, and(iii) decoded video information resulting from the decoding process,where the level of division may be any of, e.g., a frame, a slice, anLCU, a CU (i.e., coding node or not), a PU, or a TU.

Syntax data associated with HEVC may describe partitioning of the LCU orthe CU into lower level CUs in accordance with the quadtree structure,and then partitioning of the leaf node CUs into PUs. The syntax datadescribes the prediction mode (e.g., intra, inter, and skip) and PUsplitting or size for the leaf nodes. The syntax data associated with aCU may also describe, for example, partitioning of the CU into one ormore TUs, and the sizes and shapes of the TUs. Such syntax data is alsoreferred to herein as “prediction parameters,” the use of which controlprediction of the video blocks associated with the leaf node level ofthe HEVC that are to be encoded. In other words, video blocks areencoded based on the prediction parameters associated with the videoblocks.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an example relationship 100 between an LCU,CUs, PUs, and TUs. As described above, the HEVC video frame is dividedinto non-overlapped LCUs. The LCU is split into a number of CUs,terminal CUs can be split into PUs for intra prediction or motioncompensated inter prediction, and TUs for transformation.

Codec System

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example 3DVC codec system 200 in whichprediction parameter inheritance (PPI) may be used to encode and decodevideo. Codec system 200 may operate in accordance with HEVC. 3DVC isbased on a Video plus Depth (MVD) construct to represent 3D videocontent. MVD includes multiple views of video (referred to herein asmulti-view video). Each view represents video captured from a differentcamera perspective, e.g., angle, height, etc. Each view includes texturevideo and its associated depth video. The texture video includes videoinformation for rendering a picture, including luminance and chromasamples. The depth video includes information, such as a depth map,corresponding to the texture video for forming 3D video, such as depthvalues on a per-pixel basis.

Codec system 200 includes a sender side 202 and a receiver side 204.Sender side 202 includes a 3D multi-view video encoder 206 to encode a3D multi-view video 208 into an encoded bitstream 210. Encoder 206encodes both the texture video and the depth video of the multi-viewvideo into encoded bitstream 210. Encoder 206 also embeds or packscontrol and syntax-related information into the encoded bitstream,including prediction parameters used to encode the multi-view video 208,and camera parameters, such as camera angle, height, identifier, etc.Sender side 202 transmits encoded bitstream 210 to receiver side 204.

Receiver side 204 receives encoded bitstream 210. Receiver side 210includes a 3D multi-view video decoder 212 that is complementary toencoder 206 to decode the encoded bitstream based on the embeddedcontrol and syntax-related information, to reproduce the multi-viewvideo at 214. A depth image based rendering (DIBR) engine 216 constructsa 3D display image 218 based on decoded/reproduced video 214

Encoder

FIG. 3 is an expanded block diagram of sender side 202 of codec system200, including multi-view encoder 206, according to an embodiment.Depicted in FIG. 3 are multiple exemplary views view (0), view (1), andview (N-1) of 3D multi-view video 208. Each view (i) includes a texturevideo depicted on the left-hand side of the respective view and a depthvideo depicted on the right-hand side of the respective view. The terms“texture video” and “depth video” are also referred to herein,respectively, as the “texture component” and the “depth component.”Associated with each view (i) is a pair of corresponding video encoders,including a texture video encoder Ti and a corresponding depth videoencoder Di of encoder 206. Encoder Ti encodes the texture video of viewi, while depth encoder Di encodes the depth video of view (i). Forexample, texture video encoder T0 encodes the texture video of view (0),while depth video encoder D0 encodes the depth video of view (0).Accordingly, encoding a given view (i) means encoding the texture videoand the depth video associated with view (i). Encoders Ti, Di encodetheir respective views (i) using HEVC coding techniques, extended inaccordance with PPI embodiments described herein. Encoders Ti and Diprovide their respective encoded texture and encoded depth videos to amultiplexer 310 of encoder 206, which combines the encoded texture anddepth videos from each of the encoded views into encoded bit stream 210.

View 0 is referred to as a base or independent view because view 0 isencoded independent of, i.e., without referring to, the other views. Forexample, view 0 may be encoded before any of the other views areencoded. The other views, e.g., view (1)-view (N-1), including theirtexture video and associated depth video, are referred to as dependentor auxiliary views because they may be encoded using information fromother views. More specifically, embodiments described herein extend HEVCcoding techniques used by encoders Ti, Di to include a flexible andinclusive, selectively applied, prediction parameter inheritance (PPI)mode (also referred to herein simply as “PPI”) in which selected ones ofencoders Ti, Di inherit prediction parameters from selected other onesof encoders Ti, Di in any of multiple selectable directions.

Encoder 206 selectively applies PPI so that prediction parameters usedby any of encoders Ti, Di to encode their respective video blocks(whether texture or depth) may be inherited from those encoders, in anyof multiple selectable PPI directions, to be used by other encoders toencode their respective video blocks. As mentioned above, the predictionparameters control the manner in which an encoder encodes, e.g.,predicts, its respective video blocks. The “direction” means thedirection in which prediction parameters are passed from a source(encoder/block) of the prediction parameters to a recipient(encoder/block) of the prediction parameters. The multiple selectablePPI directions include inter-view directions if the blocks/encoders arefrom different views, and inter-component directions if theblocks/encoders are from different ones of the texture and depthcomponents. Also, the directions may be a combination of both inter-viewand inter-component directions.

For example, to eliminate temporal and inter-view redundancies acrossmultiple views, inter-view inter prediction may be used, where texturevideo and depth video are not only predicted from temporally neighboringpictures in the same view, but also from corresponding inter-viewpictures in adjacent views. In other examples, inter-view intraprediction is supported. Moreover, to eliminate inter-componentredundancy between the texture video and depth video, inter-componentinter and intra prediction may also be applied to depth/texture video,where depth/texture videos are predicted from texture/depth video in thesame view. In the inter-component example, prediction parameters areinherited between texture and depth components.

PPI also supports inheritance of prediction modes between differentencoders/blocks. For example, an encoder/video block (texture or depth)may inherit prediction parameters from a corresponding, e.g.,co-located, or alternatively, motion compensated, video block that issubdivided into sub-blocks, and in which:

-   -   (i) all of the sub-blocks are intra predicted;    -   (ii) all of the sub-blocks are inter predicted; and    -   (iii) the sub-blocks are hybrid predicted, i.e., some of the        sub-blocks are inter predicted and some of the sub-blocks are        intra predicted.

Accordingly, prediction parameters inherited in PPI include, but are notlimited to: a picture encoding structure, including quadtree structures,such as quadtree split flags defining CU/PU subdivision; inter, intra,and hybrid prediction modes; partition sizes and shapes (e.g., for PUs);motion vectors and fields; inter directions; reference indices; lumainter and intra (prediction) modes, and chroma inter and intra(prediction) modes.

Encoder 206 includes multiple PPI communication paths, which comprise aPPI communication infrastructure, as depicted in FIG. 3, to support PPIin a variety of the above mentioned selectable directions:

-   -   a. in-view texture-to-depth and in-view depth-to-texture 312;    -   b. inter-view texture-to-texture, including        independent-to-dependent 314, and dependent-to-dependent 316;    -   c. inter-view depth-to-depth, including independent-to-dependent        318, and dependent-to-dependent 320;    -   d. inter-view texture-to-depth, including independent        texture-to-depth 322, and dependent texture-to-depth 324; and    -   e. inter-view depth-to-texture, including independent        depth-to-texture 318, and dependent depth-to-texture 320.

Encoder 206 supports PPI in all of the above listed selectabledirections and is capable of selecting PPI in one or more of thoseselectable directions at any given time, or not at all, as necessary.Thus, PPI embodiments described herein are flexible and can provide morecoding gain and than if PPI is not permitted. Also, PPI reducescomputational loading because inheriting prediction parameters for usein encoding reduces the computational overhead associated with derivingthe prediction parameters analytically each time a video block needs tobe encoded.

As described with reference to the examples above, PPI may beconsidered, and referred to, as inheritance of prediction parametersbetween encoders, wherein prediction parameters used by a first encoderto encode first video blocks are inherited from the first encoder, inany of multiple selectable PPI directions, by a second encoder, and usedby the second encoder to encode second blocks using the inheritedprediction parameters. Alternatively and equivalently, PPI may beconsidered, and referred to, as inheritance between video blocks,wherein prediction parameters used to encode first video blocks areinherited from the first video blocks in any of multiple selectable PPIdirections and used to encode second video blocks.

FIG. 4A is a detailed block diagram of a two-view encoder, includingencoders T0, D0 of view (0), and encoders T1, D1 of view (1), of FIG. 3,according to an embodiment. Each of encoders T0, D0, T1, and D1 isconfigured to operate in substantially the same way as the otherencoders to encode its respective video component, either texture ordepth, into a corresponding encoded video component to be packed intobitstream 210. Each of encoders T0, D0, T1, and D1 includes knownencoder modules, such as a transform quantizer, an inverse transformquantizer, an in-loop filter, intra and inter prediction modules, andadders.

In addition, each encoder includes a mode decision module configured to(i) determine whether to use/apply PPI to encode video blocks (i.e.,whether to apply a PPI encoding mode), and (ii) if it is determined thatPPI is to be applied, then route inherited prediction parameters toeither the intra prediction module or the inter prediction module, asselected in accordance with the prediction mode indicated in theinherited prediction parameters, so that the selected prediction modulecan predict video blocks using the inherited prediction parameters.

To determine whether to use PPI, the mode decision module determines aset of best prediction parameters with which to encode video blocks as(i) locally derived prediction parameters, (ii) inherited predictionparameters, or (iii) a mix of locally derived and inherited parameters,based on a comparison of rate-distortion costs for the different cases(i.e., locally derived, inherited, and a mix of locally derived andinherited). If it is determined that inherited prediction parameters(either solely or in part) are the best choice, then the mode decisionmodule invokes the PPI encoding mode (i.e., applies PPI) so that aselected one of the prediction modules inherits prediction parametersfrom the appropriate PPI direction. A method determining best parametersis discussed below in connection with FIG. 9B.

Encoders T0, D0, T1, and D1 encode their respective input blocks ofvideo components into encoded blocks of video components that are thencompiled into encoded bitstream 210. The encoders also embed intobitstream 210 a syntax related to PPI. The PPI syntax includes PPI flagsindicating the PPI encoding mode, i.e., use of PPI. PPI flags may beused to signal the use of PPI at any of the levels ofper-sequence/per-view/per-slice/per-picture/per-CU/per-PU/per-TU. PPIflags may also be used to signal the use of inter-component PPI orinter-view PPI (or a combination of both) at any of the levels ofper-sequence/per-view/per-slice/per-picture/per-CU/per-PU/per-TU.

The syntax also includes one or more of the following information fieldsin association with the PPI flags:

Identifiers of the source encoder and the encoded video blocks fromwhich the prediction parameters are to be inherited, includingidentifiers of the corresponding source view (e.g., view 0, 1, etc.) andsource video component (i.e., depth or texture video). This may alsoinclude information (such as one or more encoded block identities) fromwhich an encoded block, from where the prediction parameters are to beinherited, may be determined;

Identifiers of the recipient encoder/blocks of the inherited predictionparameters, including identifiers of the corresponding recipient viewand recipient video component; and

The inherited prediction parameters.

FIG. 4B is an illustration of PPI syntax 450 that may be embedded intoencoded bitstream 210. PPI syntax includes PPI flags, PPI Direction (anindication of a source of the inherited parameters, such as the view,the component, the identity of one or more blocks), and InheritedPrediction Parameters.

Depicted in FIG. 4A in bolded line are exemplary selectable PPIcommunication or inheritance paths (corresponding to PPI communicationpaths depicted in FIG. 3) that support PPI in various directions betweenencoders T0, D0, T1, and D1. The PPI communication paths also permitinter-communication between the different per-encoder mode decisionmodules in support of PPI, so that a recipient encoder can communicateits decision to use PPI to an encoder that is the source of theprediction parameters to be inherited. The following communication pathsare depicted in FIG. 4A:

-   -   a. in-view (i.e., same-view) texture-to-depth PPI paths 404, 406        to support an inheritance of prediction parameters in the        indicated directions from texture encoder T0 to depth encoder        D0, and from texture encoder T1 to depth encoder D1. For        example, prediction parameters used by texture encoder T0 to        encode texture video blocks may be inherited from the texture        encoder (in the in-view texture-to-depth direction) by depth        encoder D0, so that the depth encoder can encode depth video        blocks using the inherited parameters;    -   b. an inter-view texture-to-texture PPI path 408, to support an        inheritance of prediction parameters from texture encoder T0 to        texture encoder T1; and    -   c. an inter-view depth-to-depth PPI path 410, to support an        inheritance of prediction parameters from depth encoder D0 to        depth encoder D1.

The following PPI communication paths also exist, but are omitted fromFIG. 4A to avoid undue complexity:

-   -   d. in-view depth-to-texture; and    -   e. inter-view depth-to-texture.

PPI paths 404-410 route prediction parameters in the indicateddirections from a source encoder/block to a recipient encoder/block.Each of pathways 404-410 includes a signal path, and a storage buffer toreceive and store the prediction parameters from the source encoder foraccess by the recipient encoder. PPI paths 404-410 direct inheritedprediction parameters from the source encoder to an input of arespective mode decision mode module in the recipient encoder. If PPI isselected/applied, then the mode decision module of the appropriaterecipient encoder routes inherited prediction parameters presented atthe input of the mode decision module to a selected one of the intra andinter prediction modules for use by the selected prediction module inencoding video blocks. The inherited prediction parameters includedprediction modes (inter/intra) that indicate the appropriate predictionmodule to be used.

The PPI communication paths, along with the mode decision modules,together comprise a PPI communication infrastructure that supports PPIin the encoder.

In embodiments, the encoders may each be implemented as one or morecomputer program modules, including object oriented computer programmodule(s), which inherit prediction parameters from other ones of theencoder computer program modules.

Decoder

FIG. 5 is a detailed block diagram of an example two-view decoder systemcorresponding to the two-view encoder system of FIG. 4A. Each ofdecoders D1, T1, D0, and T0 in FIG. 5 corresponds to a respective one ofencoders D1, T1, D0, and T0 of FIG. 4A, and decodes the encodedcomponent from its paired encoder. Each of decoders T0, D0, T1, and D1is configured to operate in substantially the same way as the otherdecoders to decode its respective encoded video component from receivedbitstream 210, either texture or depth, into a corresponding outputtexture video or output depth video, as appropriate. Each of encodersT0, D0, T1, and D1 includes known decoder modules, such as a transformquantizer, an inverse transform quantizer, an in-loop filter, intra andinter prediction modules, and an adder.

In addition, each decoder includes a mode decision module configured todetermine PPI syntax embedded in bitstream 210 and to take appropriateactions based on the determined syntax, including (i) whether to applyPPI to decode video blocks, and, if PPI is indicated, (ii) routeinherited prediction parameters to a selected one of the intra and interprediction modules so that the selected prediction module can predictvideo blocks using the inherited prediction parameters.

Depicted in FIG. 5 in bolded line are exemplary selectable PPIcommunication paths 504, 506, 508, and 510 (corresponding to PPIcommunication paths 404, 406, 408, and 410 in the encoder of FIG. 4A)that support PPI in various directions between decoders TO, D0, T1, andD1. Not all supported PPI communication paths are shown in FIG. 5 so asnot to add undue complexity to the figure. The PPI communication pathspermit inter-communication between the different mode decision modulesin support of PPI, so that a recipient decoder can communicate itsdecision to use PPI to a decoder that is a source of the predictionparameters to be inherited. The PPI communication paths of the decoderare configured to operate similarly to those of the encoder in FIG. 4Aand, therefore, will not be described further herein. The two-viewdecoder supports PPI in all of the same directions supported by theencoder of FIG. 4A.

Each respective (decoder) mode decision module determines PPI syntaxembedded in received bitstream 210. If PPI flags indicate PPI, then thedecision module causes its respective decoder to decode its receivedencoded video blocks using PPI, in accordance with the PPI syntaxinformation fields associated with the PPI flags, including theinherited prediction parameters. The mode decision module routes theprediction parameters, in a direction from the indicated source of theinherited prediction parameters, to the one of the inter and intraprediction modules in accordance with the prediction modes included inthe inherited prediction parameters.

The PPI communication paths and the mode decision modules togethercomprise a PPI communication infrastructure that supports PPI in thedecoder. The decoder PPI communication infrastructure supports all ofthe PPI directions supported in the encoder described above. Thedecoders support PPI in all of the direction listed above for theencoders, and are capable of selecting PPI in one or more of thosedirections at any given time, or not at all, as necessary.

In embodiments, the decoders may each be implemented as one or morecomputer program modules, including object oriented computer programmodule(s), which inherit prediction parameters from other ones of thedecoder computer program modules.

The PPI syntax may indicate PPI in which prediction parameters areinherited from an inter-view component, such as depth video, or aninter-component block. If, for example, the prediction parameters areinherited from an inter-view depth component, e.g., a depth map, acorresponding block in an inter-view depth map may be retrieved using agenerated disparity vector, as described below in connection with FIG.6.

FIG. 6 is an illustration an example generated disparity vector,generated by a decoder of FIG. 5, to determine a reference blockcorresponding to a current block to be decoded in inter-view PPI. Thegenerated disparity vector may be a depth-converted disparity vector, aglobal disparity vector, or a selective disparity vector fromneighboring pre-coded blocks, etc. As a result of block-basedencoding/decoding, a disparity-compensated block in the pre-codedinter-view component (see top blocks in FIG. 6), e.g., depth map, maynot be a whole block. For example, the disparity compensated block mayoverlap more than one of multiple pre-coded blocks, indicated at A, B,C, and D in FIG. 6. Different methods may be used to select thecorresponding block, including, e.g., i) the dominant overlapped blockmay be selected as the corresponding block, denoted as “B” in FIG. 6;ii) all of the overlapped blocks A, B, C, and D are checked for a matchbased on rate-distortion costs, and an optimal one of the blocks isselected based on a best rate-distortion cost. If the PPI flags indicateintra-view PPI instead of inter-view PPI, then prediction parameters arecopied from (i.e., inherited from) a co-located block within the sameview.

PPI Examples

FIG. 7A is a block diagram indicating PPI in various selectabledirections between encoders D0, T0, D1, and T1. The selectable PPIdirections, indicated by the arrows, include in-view inter-component,inter-view inter-component, and inter-view same-component. The blockdiagram also applies equally to PPI directions that may be appliedbetween decoders D0, T0, D1, and T1 of FIG. 5. As indicated:

-   -   a. a video block of D0 (of view (0)) may be encoded/decoded        based on prediction parameters inherited from a video block of        T0 (of view (0));    -   b. a video block of T0 may inherit prediction parameters from a        video block of D0;    -   c. a video block of D1 may inherit prediction parameters from a        selectable one of the video blocks from D0, T0, and T1;    -   d. a video block of T1 may inherit prediction parameters from a        selectable one of the video blocks from D0, T0, and D1.

FIG. 7B is a series of block diagrams, including, from top-to-bottom:

-   -   (a) intra, in which blocks on the right inherit a structure and        intra prediction modes from the all intra encoded blocks on the        left;    -   (b) inter, in which coding blocks on the right inherit a        structure and inter prediction modes from the all inter encoded        blocks on the left; and    -   (c) hybrid, in which coding blocks on the right inherit a        structure and hybrid (inter and intra) prediction modes from the        hybrid encoded blocks on the left.

FIG. 7C is a block diagram of another example PPI from a hybrid-encodedsource block (i.e., the left-hand block) by a current block (i.e., theright-hand block). Prediction parameters of each sub-block of the sourceblock such as quadtree splitting (i.e., the split flags), predictionmodes, partition size, motion field, inter direction, reference index,luma intra mode, and chroma intra mode could be fully or partiallyinherited.

PPI may be at any level of a tree-block (i.e., coding tree) hierarchy.Therefore, a source CU and a recipient CU may be at different levels inthe hierarchy and have different sizes, as discussed below in connectionwith FIGS. 8A and 8B.

FIG. 8A is an example illustration of PPI at different levels of acoding tree hierarchy, namely, from a large CU to a small CU. In thiscase, PPI is indicated at a lower level of a quadtree corresponding to asize of a recipient CU (“current CU”) that is smaller than a size of asource CU (“CU at higher level”) that is used for the inheritance.Accordingly, the shaded block in FIG. 8A, with the same size as thecurrent CU, is denoted as the source of the inherited signal (i.e., thesource of inheritance). The prediction parameters, such as predictionmodes, motion fields, inter directions, reference indices, luma intramodes, and chroma intra modes, are fully or partially inherited from theinherited signal. Also, the quadtree split flag of the current CU is setto false, and a partition size of the current CU is set to 2N×2N.

FIG. 8B another example illustration of PPI at different levels of acoding tree hierarchy, namely, from a small CU to a large CU. In thiscase, PPI is indicated at a lower level of a quadtree corresponding to aCU size that is smaller than the CU size that is used for the inheritedsignal (i.e., the source of inheritance). The shaded blocks in FIG. 8B,denoted as the inherited signal (i.e., inherited PPI source), have thesame size as the current CU. The prediction parameters, such as quadtreesplit flags (CU/PU subdivision), prediction modes, partition sizes,motion fields, inter directions, reference indices, luma intra modes,and chroma intra modes, are fully or partially inherited from theinherited signal.

Method Flowcharts

FIG. 9A is a flowchart of an example method 900 of encoding multi-viewtexture and depth video/components using PPI.

905 includes receiving a distinct video block to be encoded from/of eachof a texture component of a first view of multiple views of multi-viewvideo, a depth component of the first view, a texture component of asecond view of the multiple views, and a depth component of the secondview. The multi-view video may be 3D multi-view video.

910 includes encoding each respective distinct video block based on aselectable one of

prediction parameters inherited from a selectable one of the otherdistinct video blocks, and

prediction parameters that are not inherited from one of the otherdistinct video blocks.

Encoding the respective distinct video block based on inheritedprediction parameters may include:

-   -   a. encoding the respective video block of one of the texture and        depth components of the first view based on prediction        parameters inherited from the one of the other video blocks of        the other one of the texture and depth components of the first        view; and    -   b. encoding the respective video block of the one of the texture        and depth components of the second view based on prediction        parameters inherited from a selectable one of the other video        blocks of        -   the texture component of the first view        -   the depth component of the first view, and        -   the other one of the texture and depth components of the            second view.

The inherited prediction parameters may also include:

-   -   a. inter-prediction modes if the one of the other video blocks        includes coding blocks encoded based on the inter-prediction        modes;    -   b. intra-prediction modes if the one of the other video blocks        includes coding blocks encoded based on the intra-prediction        modes; and    -   c. a combination of inter and intra prediction modes if the one        of other video blocks includes coding blocks encoded based on        the combination of the inter and intra modes.

915 includes generating an encoded bitstream comprising encoded videoblocks of the texture and the depth components in each of the multipleviews.

920 includes embedding into the encoded bitstream a PPI syntaxassociated with each of the encoded video blocks that was encoded basedon inherited prediction parameters, the PPI syntax including a PPI flagindicating that the encoded video block was encoded based on inheritedprediction parameters, information from which the one of the other videoblocks from which the prediction parameters were inherited isdeterminable (e.g., specifically identifying the block or severalcandidate blocks from which the prediction parameters may have beeninherited, identifying the view and component, etc.), and the inheritedprediction parameters.

FIG. 9B is a flowchart of an example method expanding on the encoding at910 of method 900.

930 includes determining whether to encode each of the respective videoblocks based on a set of inherited prediction parameters or on a set ofprediction parameters that are not inherited. The determining of 930 maybe performed by the mode decision modules in each of encoders T0, D0,T1, and D1 of the multi-view encoders of FIG. 4A, for example.

935 includes encoding the respective video block based on the set ofinherited prediction parameters if it is determined to do so in 930.

940 includes encoding the respective video block based on a set ofprediction parameters that are not inherited if it is determined to doso in 930.

Determining at 930 is further expanded at 950, 955, and 960.

950 includes receiving the respective video block to be encoded andcandidate sets of prediction parameters with which to encode the videoblock, the candidate sets including sets of inherited predictionparameters and sets of prediction parameters that are not inheritedprediction parameters, such as default and locally generated predictionparameters (i.e., generated in the respective one of the encoders thatis to encode the respective video block).

955 includes estimating a rate-distortion cost for each of the sets ofcandidate prediction parameters with respect to the respective videoblock based on a rate-distortion cost function. Any appropriate knownrate-distortion cost function may be used, such as one based quantizedvideo signals, sum of square differences, and Lagrangian coefficients,as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant arts.

960 includes selecting a best one of the sets of prediction parametersthat minimizes the estimated rate-distortion cost.

In an embodiment, a combination of inherited and non-inheritedprediction parameters may be selected, and then used to encode therespective video block, where the combination minimizes therate-distortion cost function.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an example method 1000 of decoding encodedmulti-view texture and depth video/components using PPI.

1005 includes receiving an encoded video block of each of a texturecomponent of a first view of multiple views of multi-view video, a depthcomponent of the first view, a texture component of a second view of themultiple views, and a depth component of the second view. The multi-viewvideo may be 3D multi-view video.

1010 includes determining whether each encoded video block is associatedwith a PPI indicating that the respective encoded video block wasencoded based on inherited prediction parameters.

1015 includes decoding the respective encoded video block based onprediction parameters inherited from a selectable one of the otherencoded video blocks indicated in the PPI syntax, if inheritedprediction parameters are indicated for the respective encoded videoblock.

1020 includes decoding the respective encoded video block based onprediction parameters that are not inherited if inherited predictionparameters are not indicated.

Embodiments of PPI in encoders and decoders include/provide one or moreof the following:

1. A mechanism to perform prediction parameter inheritance to 3D videocoding to improve the performance of a 3D video codec;

2. A mechanism to selectively apply PPI in a specificsequence/view/slice/picture/CU/PU/TU level;

3. A mechanism to adaptively apply PPI as an additional coding mode,i.e., the PPI coding mode. Aper-sequence/per-view/per-slice/per-picture/per-CU/per-PU/per-TU flagcan be used to signal whether PPI is applied to thesequence/view/slice/picture/CU/PU/TU, and the decision to use PPI may bemade based on a rate-distortion cost analysis;

4. A mechanism to adaptively and selectively apply PPI frominter-component or inter-view directions. In this case, aper-sequence/per-view/per-slice/per-picture/per-CU per-PU/per-TU flagcan be used to signal if the prediction parameters are inherited fromeither inter-component texture or inter-view texture/depth directions,and the decision to apply the PPI may be made based on a rate-distortioncost analysis;

5. A mechanism to perform PPI to improve independent/dependent depth mapcoding, and/or dependent texture video encoding. The inheritancedirection may be texture-to-depth, and/or depth-to-depth, and/ortexture-to-texture:

A mechanism to apply PPI to independent/dependent depth map blocks,where the prediction parameters are inherited by co-located texturevideo blocks. An example of “co-located” is when the coordinates of acurrent block relative to a depth map and the coordinates of a textureblock relative a texture frame are the same;

A mechanism to apply PPI to dependent depth blocks, where predictionparameters are inherited from corresponding inter-view depth blocks. Thecorresponding inter-view blocks can be retrieved using a generateddisparity vector, such as i) a depth-converted disparity vector, ii) aglobal disparity vector, and iii) a selective disparity vector fromneighboring pre-coded blocks. A result of block-based coding is that thedisparity-compensated block in the pre-coded inter-view depth map maynot be a whole block; it may overlap more than one pre-coded blocks. Inthis case, different methods may be used to choose a correspondingblock, e.g. i) the dominant overlapped block is chosen as thecorresponding block, and ii) all of the overlapped blocks are tested todetermine an optimal one based on a rate-distortion cost analysis.

A mechanism to apply PPI to dependent texture blocks, where predictionparameters are inherited from corresponding inter-view texture blocks.The derivation of the corresponding blocks may use generated disparityvector, as mentioned above;

6. A mechanism to apply PPI in which sub-blocks of that are the sourceof the inherited signal may be coded using all-inter/all-intra/hybridprediction. For example, an independent depth map block may inheritprediction parameters from its co-located texture video block in whicha) all the sub-blocks are intra coded, b) all the sub-blocks are intercoded, and c) some sub-blocks are intra coded and some sub-blocks areinter coded; and

7. A mechanism to apply PPI at any level of a tree-block hierarchy:

If the PPI mode is indicated at a higher level of a coding tree,corresponding to a CU size that is larger than or the same as the CUsize that is used for the inherited signal; and

If the PPI mode is indicated at a lower level of the coding tree,corresponding to a CU size that is smaller than the CU size that is usedfor the inherited signal.

Computer System

Methods and systems disclosed herein may be implemented in hardware,software, firmware, and combinations thereof, including discrete andintegrated circuit logic, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)logic, and microcontrollers, and may be implemented as part of adomain-specific integrated circuit package, and/or a combination ofintegrated circuit packages. Software may include a computer readablemedium encoded with a computer program including instructions to cause aprocessor to perform one or more functions in response thereto. Thecomputer readable medium may include a transitory and/or non-transitorymedium. The processor may include a general purpose instructionprocessor, a controller, a microcontroller, and/or otherinstruction-based processor.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a computer system 1100, configured toperform PPI embodiments in an encoder and a decoder, as described in oneor more examples above.

Computer system 1100 includes one or more computer instructionprocessing units and/or processor cores, illustrated here as a processor1102, to execute computer readable instructions, also referred to hereinas computer program logic.

Computer system 1100 may include memory, cache, registers, and/orstorage, illustrated here as memory 1104, which may include anon-transitory computer readable medium encoded with a computer program,illustrated here as a computer program 1106.

Memory 1104 may include data 1108 to be used by processor 1102 inexecuting computer program 1106, and/or generated by processor 1102during execution of computer program 1106. Data 1108 may includemultiple video including texture video and depth map components 1108 a,prediction parameters 1108 b, and coded components 1108 c.

Computer program 1106 may include encoder instructions 1110, includingPPI communication infrastructure instructions, to cause processor 1102to encode 3D video using PPI as described in one or more examples above.

Computer program 1106 may include decoder instructions 1110, includingPPI communication infrastructure instructions, to cause processor 1102to decode code 3D video using PPI as described in one or more examplesabove.

In embodiments, components of system 1100 directed to encodingembodiments and components directed to decoding embodiments may residein physically separate devices, e.g., the encoding components reside ina sender side device, while the decoding components reside in a receiverside device, as would be apparent to one having ordinary skill in therelevant arts.

Device Systems

Methods and systems disclosed herein may be implemented with respect toone or more of a variety of systems including one or more consumersystems, such as described below with reference to FIG. 12. Methods andsystems disclosed herein are not, however, limited to the example ofFIG. 12.

FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment of a system 1200 in which PPI encoderand decoder embodiments described herein may be implemented. Inembodiments, system 1200 may be a media system although system 1200 isnot limited to this context. For example, system 1200 may beincorporated into a personal computer (PC), laptop computer,ultra-laptop computer, tablet, touch pad, portable computer, handheldcomputer, palmtop computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), cellulartelephone, combination cellular telephone/PDA, television, smart device(e.g., smart phone, smart tablet or smart television), mobile internetdevice (MID), messaging device, data communication device, and so forth.

In embodiments, system 1200 comprises a platform 1202 coupled to adisplay 1220. Platform 1202 may receive content from a content devicesuch as content services device(s) 1230 or content delivery device(s)1240 or other similar content sources. A navigation controller 1250comprising one or more navigation features may be used to interact with,for example, platform 1202 and/or display 1220. Each of these componentsis described in more detail below.

In embodiments, platform 1202 may comprise any combination of a chipset1205, processor 1210, memory 1212, storage 1214, graphics subsystem1215, applications 1216 and/or radio 1218. Chipset 1205 may provideintercommunication among processor 1210, memory 1212, storage 1214,graphics subsystem 1215, applications 1216 and/or radio 1218. Forexample, chipset 1205 may include a storage adapter (not depicted)capable of providing intercommunication with storage 1214.

Processor 1210 may be implemented as Complex Instruction Set Computer(CISC) or Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) processors, x86instruction set compatible processors, multi-core, or any othermicroprocessor or central processing unit (CPU). In embodiments,processor 1210 may comprise dual-core processor(s), dual-core mobileprocessor(s), and so forth.

Memory 1212 may be implemented as a volatile memory device such as, butnot limited to, a Random Access Memory (RAM), Dynamic Random AccessMemory (DRAM), or Static RAM (SRAM).

Storage 1214 may be implemented as a non-volatile storage device suchas, but not limited to, a magnetic disk drive, optical disk drive, tapedrive, an internal storage device, an attached storage device, flashmemory, battery backed-up SDRAM (synchronous DRAM), and/or a networkaccessible storage device. In embodiments, storage 1214 may comprisetechnology to increase the storage performance enhanced protection forvaluable digital media when multiple hard drives are included, forexample.

Graphics subsystem 1215 may perform processing of images such as stillor video for display. Graphics subsystem 1215 may be a graphicsprocessing unit (GPU) or a visual processing unit (VPU), for example. Ananalog or digital interface may be used to communicatively couplegraphics subsystem 1215 and display 1220. For example, the interface maybe any of a High-Definition Multimedia Interface, Display Port, wirelessHDMI, and/or wireless HD compliant techniques. Graphics subsystem 1215could be integrated into processor 1210 or chipset 1205. Graphicssubsystem 1215 could be a stand-alone card communicatively coupled tochipset 1205.

The graphics and/or video processing techniques described herein may beimplemented in various hardware architectures. For example, graphicsand/or video functionality may be integrated within a chipset.Alternatively, a discrete graphics and/or video processor may be used.As still another embodiment, the graphics and/or video functions may beimplemented by a general purpose processor, including a multi-coreprocessor. In a further embodiment, the functions may be implemented ina consumer electronics device.

Radio 1218 may include one or more radios capable of transmitting andreceiving signals using various suitable wireless communicationstechniques. Such techniques may involve communications across one ormore wireless networks. Exemplary wireless networks include (but are notlimited to) wireless local area networks (WLANs), wireless personal areanetworks (WPANs), wireless metropolitan area network (WMANs), cellularnetworks, and satellite networks. In communicating across such networks,radio 1218 may operate in accordance with one or more applicablestandards in any version.

In embodiments, display 1220 may comprise any television type monitor ordisplay. Display 1220 may comprise, for example, a computer displayscreen, touch screen display, video monitor, television-like device,and/or a television. Display 1220 may be digital and/or analog. Inembodiments, display 1220 may be a holographic display. Also, display1220 may be a transparent surface that may receive a visual projection.Such projections may convey various forms of information, images, and/orobjects. For example, such projections may be a visual overlay for amobile augmented reality (MAR) application. Under the control of one ormore software applications 1216, platform 1202 may display userinterface 1222 on display 1220.

In embodiments, content services device(s) 1230 may be hosted by anynational, international and/or independent service and thus accessibleto platform 1202 via the Internet, for example. Content servicesdevice(s) 1230 may be coupled to platform 1202 and/or to display 1220.Platform 1202 and/or content services device(s) 1230 may be coupled to anetwork 1260 to communicate (e.g., send and/or receive) mediainformation to and from network 1260. Content delivery device(s) 1240also may be coupled to platform 1202 and/or to display 1220.

In embodiments, content services device(s) 1230 may comprise a cabletelevision box, personal computer, network, telephone, Internet enableddevices or appliance capable of delivering digital information and/orcontent, and any other similar device capable of unidirectionally orbidirectionally communicating content between content providers andplatform 1202 and/display 1220, via network 1260 or directly. It will beappreciated that the content may be communicated unidirectionally and/orbidirectionally to and from any one of the components in system 1200 anda content provider via network 1260. Examples of content may include anymedia information including, for example, video, music, medical andgaming information, and so forth.

Content services device(s) 1230 receives content such as cabletelevision programming including media information, digital information,and/or other content. Examples of content providers may include anycable or satellite television or radio or Internet content providers.The provided examples are not meant to limit embodiments of theinvention.

In embodiments, platform 1202 may receive control signals fromnavigation controller 1250 having one or more navigation features. Thenavigation features of controller 1250 may be used to interact with userinterface 1222, for example. In embodiments, navigation controller 1250may be a pointing device that may be a computer hardware component(specifically human interface device) that allows a user to inputspatial (e.g., continuous and multi-dimensional) data into a computer.Many systems such as graphical user interfaces (GUI), and televisionsand monitors allow the user to control and provide data to the computeror television using physical gestures.

Movements of the navigation features of controller 1250 may be echoed ona display (e.g., display 1220) by movements of a pointer, cursor, focusring, or other visual indicators displayed on the display. For example,under the control of software applications 1216, the navigation featureslocated on navigation controller 1250 may be mapped to virtualnavigation features displayed on user interface 1222, for example. Inembodiments, controller 1250 may not be a separate component butintegrated into platform 1202 and/or display 1220. Embodiments, however,are not limited to the elements or in the context shown or describedherein.

In embodiments, drivers (not shown) may comprise technology to enableusers to instantly turn on and off platform 1202 like a television withthe touch of a button after initial boot-up, when enabled, for example.Program logic may allow platform 1202 to stream content to mediaadaptors or other content services device(s) 1230 or content deliverydevice(s) 1240 when the platform is turned “off” In addition, chip set1205 may comprise hardware and/or software support for 5.1 surroundsound audio and/or high definition 12.1 surround sound audio, forexample. Drivers may include a graphics driver for integrated graphicsplatforms. In embodiments, the graphics driver may comprise a peripheralcomponent interconnect (PCI) Express graphics card.

In various embodiments, any one or more of the components shown insystem 1200 may be integrated. For example, platform 1202 and contentservices device(s) 1230 may be integrated, or platform 1202 and contentdelivery device(s) 1240 may be integrated, or platform 1202, contentservices device(s) 1230, and content delivery device(s) 1240 may beintegrated, for example. In various embodiments, platform 1202 anddisplay 1220 may be an integrated unit. Display 1220 and content servicedevice(s) 1230 may be integrated, or display 1220 and content deliverydevice(s) 1240 may be integrated, for example. These examples are notmeant to limit the invention.

In various embodiments, system 1200 may be implemented as a wirelesssystem, a wired system, or a combination of both. When implemented as awireless system, system 1200 may include components and interfacessuitable for communicating over a wireless shared media, such as one ormore antennas, transmitters, receivers, transceivers, amplifiers,filters, control logic, and so forth. An example of wireless sharedmedia may include portions of a wireless spectrum, such as the RFspectrum and so forth. When implemented as a wired system, system 1200may include components and interfaces suitable for communicating overwired communications media, such as input/output (I/O) adapters,physical connectors to connect the I/O adapter with a correspondingwired communications medium, a network interface card (NIC), disccontroller, video controller, audio controller, and so forth. Examplesof wired communications media may include a wire, cable, metal leads,printed circuit board (PCB), backplane, switch fabric, semiconductormaterial, twisted-pair wire, co-axial cable, fiber optics, and so forth.

Platform 1202 may establish one or more logical or physical channels tocommunicate information. The information may include media informationand control information. Media information may refer to any datarepresenting content meant for a user. Examples of content may include,for example, data from a voice conversation, videoconference, streamingvideo, electronic mail (“email”) message, voice mail message,alphanumeric symbols, graphics, image, video, text and so forth. Datafrom a voice conversation may be, for example, speech information,silence periods, background noise, comfort noise, tones and so forth.Control information may refer to any data representing commands,instructions or control words meant for an automated system. Forexample, control information may be used to route media informationthrough a system, or instruct a node to process the media information ina predetermined manner. The embodiments, however, are not limited to theelements or in the context shown or described in FIG. 12.

As described above, system 1200 may be embodied in varying physicalstyles or form factors.

FIG. 13 illustrates embodiments of a small form factor device 1300 inwhich system 1200 may be embodied. In embodiments, for example, device1300 may be implemented as a mobile computing device having wirelesscapabilities. A mobile computing device may refer to any device having aprocessing system and a mobile power source or supply, such as one ormore batteries, for example.

As described above, examples of a mobile computing device may include apersonal computer (PC), laptop computer, ultra-laptop computer, tablet,touch pad, portable computer, handheld computer, palmtop computer,personal digital assistant (PDA), cellular telephone, combinationcellular telephone/PDA, television, smart device (e.g., smart phone,smart tablet or smart television), mobile internet device (MID),messaging device, data communication device, and so forth.

Examples of a mobile computing device also may include computers thatare arranged to be worn by a person, such as a wrist computer, fingercomputer, ring computer, eyeglass computer, belt-clip computer, arm-bandcomputer, shoe computers, clothing computers, and other wearablecomputers. In embodiments, for example, a mobile computing device may beimplemented as a smart phone capable of executing computer applications,as well as voice communications and/or data communications. Althoughsome embodiments may be described with a mobile computing deviceimplemented as a smart phone by way of example, it may be appreciatedthat other embodiments may be implemented using other wireless mobilecomputing devices as well. The embodiments are not limited in thiscontext.

As shown in FIG. 13, device 1300 may comprise a housing 1302, a display1304, an input/output (I/O) device 1306, and an antenna 1308. Device1300 also may comprise navigation features 1312. Display 1304 maycomprise any suitable display unit for displaying informationappropriate for a mobile computing device. I/O device 1306 may compriseany suitable I/O device for entering information into a mobile computingdevice. Examples for I/O device 1306 may include an alphanumerickeyboard, a numeric keypad, a touch pad, input keys, buttons, switches,rocker switches, microphones, speakers, voice recognition device andsoftware, and so forth. Information also may be entered into device 1300by way of microphone. Such information may be digitized by a voicerecognition device. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

Various embodiments may be implemented using hardware elements, softwareelements, or a combination of both. Examples of hardware elements mayinclude processors, microprocessors, circuits, circuit elements (e.g.,transistors, resistors, capacitors, inductors, and so forth), integratedcircuits, application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), programmablelogic devices (PLD), digital signal processors (DSP), field programmablegate array (FPGA), logic gates, registers, semiconductor device, chips,microchips, chip sets, and so forth. Examples of software may includesoftware components, programs, applications, computer programs,application programs, system programs, machine programs, operatingsystem software, middleware, firmware, software modules, routines,subroutines, functions, methods, procedures, software interfaces,application program interfaces (API), instruction sets, computing code,computer code, code segments, computer code segments, words, values,symbols, or any combination thereof. Determining whether an embodimentis implemented using hardware elements and/or software elements may varyin accordance with any number of factors, such as desired computationalrate, power levels, heat tolerances, processing cycle budget, input datarates, output data rates, memory resources, data bus speeds and otherdesign or performance constraints.

Methods and systems are disclosed herein with the aid of functionalbuilding blocks illustrating functions, features, and relationshipsthereof. At least some of the boundaries of these functional buildingblocks have been arbitrarily defined herein for the convenience of thedescription. Alternate boundaries may be defined so long as thespecified functions and relationships thereof are appropriatelyperformed.

Various computer program product, apparatus, and method embodiments aredisclosed herein.

An embodiment includes a non-transitory computer readable medium encodedwith a computer program, including instructions to cause a processor to:

encode a video block from each of

a texture component of a first view of multiple views of multi-viewvideo,

a depth component of the first view,

a texture component of a second view of the multiple views, and

a depth component of the second view;

wherein the instructions to cause the processor to encode each videoblock include instructions to cause the processor to encode therespective video block based on a selectable one of

prediction parameters inherited from a selectable one of the other videoblocks, and

prediction parameters that are not inherited from one of the other videoblocks.

The multi-view video may be three-dimensional (3D) multi-view video.

The instructions to cause the processor to encode the respective videoblock based on prediction parameters inherited from one of the otherblocks may include instructions to cause the processor to:

encode the respective video block of one of the texture and depthcomponents of the first view based on prediction parameters inheritedfrom the one of the other video blocks of the other one of the textureand depth components of the first view; and

encode the respective video block of the one of the texture and depthcomponents of the second view based on prediction parameters inheritedfrom a selectable one of the other video blocks of

-   -   the texture component of the first view    -   the depth component of the first view, and    -   the other one of the texture and depth components of the second        view.

The inherited prediction parameters may include:

inter-prediction modes if the one of the other video blocks includescoding blocks encoded based on the inter-prediction modes;

intra-prediction modes if the one of the other video blocks includescoding blocks encoded based on the intra-prediction modes; and

a combination of inter and intra prediction modes if the one of othervideo blocks includes coding blocks encoded based on the combination ofthe inter and intra modes.

The instructions to encode may include instructions to the respectivevideo block based on prediction parameters inherited from the one of theother video blocks, wherein the inherited prediction parameters includea quadtree structure splitting video blocks into coding units (CUs) andprediction units (PUs), sizes of the PUs, and inter and intra predictionmodes used to encode the PUs.

The inherited prediction parameters may further include at least two ormore of motion a motion vector, motion fields, inter directions,reference indices, luma intra modes, and chroma intra modes.

Further instructions may cause the processor to:

determine whether to encode the respective video block based oninherited prediction parameters;

encode the respective video block based on the inherited predictionparameters if it is determined to encode based on inherited predictionparameters; and

encode the respective video block based on prediction parameters thatare not inherited if it is determined not to encode based on inheritedprediction parameters.

Further instructions may cause the processor to:

generate an encoded bitstream comprising encoded video blocks of thetexture and the depth components in each of the multiple views; and

embed into the encoded bitstream a prediction parameter inheritance(PPI) syntax associated with each of the encoded video blocks that wasencoded based on inherited prediction parameters, the PPI syntaxincluding

a PPI flag indicating that the encoded video block was encoded based oninherited prediction parameters,

information from which the one of the other video blocks from which theprediction parameters were inherited is determinable, and

the inherited prediction parameters.

An apparatus embodiment, comprises:

an encoder to encode a video block from each of

a texture component of a first view of multiple views of multi-viewvideo,

a depth component of the first view,

a texture component of a second view of the multiple views, and

a depth component of the second view;

wherein the encoder is configured to encode each respective video blockbased on a selectable one of

prediction parameters inherited from a selectable one of the other videoblocks, and

prediction parameters that are not inherited from one of the other videoblocks.

The multi-view video may be three-dimensional (3D) multi-view video.

The encoder may be configured to:

encode the respective video block of one of the texture and depthcomponents of the first view based on prediction parameters inheritedfrom the one of the other video blocks of the other one of the textureand depth components of the first view; and

encode the respective video block of the one of the texture and depthcomponents of the second view based on prediction parameters inheritedfrom a selectable one of the other video blocks of

-   -   the texture component of the first view    -   the depth component of the first view, and    -   the other one of the texture and depth components of the second        view.

The encoder may be configured to encode the respective video block basedon prediction parameters inherited from the one of the other videoblocks, and wherein the inherited prediction parameters include:

inter-prediction modes if the one of the other video blocks includescoding blocks encoded by the encoder based on the inter-predictionmodes;

intra-prediction modes if the one of the other video blocks includescoding blocks encoded by the encoder based on the intra-predictionmodes; and

a combination of inter and intra prediction modes if the one of othervideo blocks includes coding blocks encoded by the encoder based on thecombination of the inter and intra modes.

The encoder may be configured to encode the respective video block basedon prediction parameters inherited from the one of the other videoblocks, and wherein the inherited prediction parameters include aquadtree structure splitting video blocks into coding units (CUs) andprediction units (PUs), sizes of the PUs, and inter and intra predictionmodes used to encode the PUs.

The inherited prediction parameters may further include at least two ormore of motion a motion vector, motion fields, inter directions,reference indices, luma intra modes, and chroma intra modes.

The encoder may be further configured to:

determine whether to encode the respective video block based oninherited prediction parameters;

encode the respective video block based on the inherited predictionparameters if it is determined to encode based on inherited predictionparameters; and

encoding the respective video block based on prediction parameters thatare not inherited if it is determined not to encode based on inheritedprediction parameters.

The encoder may be further configured to:

generate an encoded bitstream comprising encoded video blocks of thetexture and the depth components in each of the multiple views; and

embed into the encoded bitstream a prediction parameter inheritance(PPI) syntax associated with each of the encoded video blocks that wasencoded based on inherited prediction parameters, the PPI syntaxincluding

a PPI flag indicating that the encoded video block was encoded based oninherited prediction parameters,

information from which the one of the other video blocks from which theprediction parameters were inherited is determinable, and

-   -   the inherited prediction parameters.

The apparatus may further comprise:

-   -   communication components to communicate with a communication        network;    -   a user interface;

a processor and memory to communicate with the communication componentsand the user interface; and

a housing to house the encoder, the processor and memory, thecommunication components, and the user interface.

A method embodiment, comprises:

encoding a video block from each of

a texture component of a first view of multiple views of multi-viewvideo,

a depth component of the first view,

a texture component of a second view of the multiple views, and

a depth component of the second view;

wherein the encoding of each video block includes encoding therespective video block based on a selectable one of

prediction parameters inherited from a selectable one of the other videoblocks, and

prediction parameters that are not inherited from one of the other videoblocks.

The multi-view video may be three-dimensional (3D) multi-view video.

The encoding the respective video block may include:

encoding the respective video block of one of the texture and depthcomponents of the first view based on prediction parameters inheritedfrom the one of the other video blocks of the other one of the textureand depth components of the first view; and

encoding the respective video block of the one of the texture and depthcomponents of the second view based on prediction parameters inheritedfrom a selectable one of the other video blocks of

-   -   the texture component of the first view    -   the depth component of the first view, and    -   the other one of the texture and depth components of the second        view.

The encoding may include encoding the respective video block based onprediction parameters inherited from the one of the other video blocks,wherein the inherited prediction parameters include:

inter-prediction modes if the one of the other video blocks includescoding blocks encoded based on the inter-prediction modes;

intra-prediction modes if the one of the other video blocks includescoding blocks encoded based on the intra-prediction modes; and

a combination of inter and intra prediction modes if the one of othervideo blocks includes coding blocks encoded based on the combination ofthe inter and intra modes.

The encoding may include encoding the respective video block based onprediction parameters inherited from the one of the other video blocks,wherein the inherited prediction parameters include a quadtree structuresplitting video blocks into coding units (CUs) and prediction units(PUs), sizes of the PUs, and inter and intra prediction modes used toencode the PUs.

The inherited prediction parameters may further include at least two ormore of motion a motion vector, motion fields, inter directions,reference indices, luma intra modes, and chroma intra modes.

The method may further comprise, prior to encoding the respective videoblock:

determining whether to encode the respective video block based oninherited prediction parameters;

if it is determined to encode based on inherited prediction parameters,then encoding the respective video block based on the inheritedprediction parameters; and

if it is determined not to encode based on inherited predictionparameters, then encoding the respective video block based on predictionparameters that are not inherited.

The method may further comprise:

generating an encoded bitstream comprising encoded video blocks of thetexture and the depth components in each of the multiple views; and

embedding into the encoded bitstream a prediction parameter inheritance(PPI) syntax associated with each of the encoded video blocks that wasencoded based on inherited prediction parameters, the PPI syntaxincluding

a PPI flag indicating that the encoded video block was encoded based oninherited prediction parameters,

information from which the one of the other video blocks from which theprediction parameters were inherited is determinable, and

the inherited prediction parameters.

Another embodiment comprises a non-transitory computer readable mediumencoded with a computer program, including instructions to cause aprocessor to:

receive an encoded video block of each of

a texture component of a first view of multiple views of multi-viewvideo,

a depth component of the first view,

a texture component of a second view of the multiple views, and

a depth component of the second view;

determine whether each encoded video block is associated with aprediction parameter inheritance syntax (PPI) indicating that therespective encoded video block was encoded based on inherited predictionparameters; and

decode the respective encoded video block based on prediction parametersinherited from a selectable one of the other encoded video blocksindicated in the PPI syntax, if inherited prediction parameters areindicated for the respective encoded video block.

The multi-view video may comprise three-dimensional (3D) multi-viewvideo.

The instruction to cause the processor to decode may includeinstructions to cause the processor to:

decode the respective encoded video block of one of the texture anddepth components of the first view based on prediction parametersinherited from the one of the other encoded video blocks from the otherone of the texture and depth components of the first view; and

decode the respective encoded video block of one of the texture anddepth components of the second view based on prediction parametersinherited from a selectable one of the other encoded video blocks of

-   -   the texture component of the first view    -   the depth component of the first view, and    -   the other one of the texture and depth components of the second        view.

The inherited prediction parameters may include:

inter-prediction modes if the one of the other encoded video blocksincludes coding blocks encoded based on the inter-prediction modes;

intra-prediction modes if the one of the other encoded video blocksincludes coding blocks encoded based on the intra-prediction modes; and

a combination of inter and intra prediction modes if the one of otherencoded video blocks includes coding blocks encoded based on thecombination of the inter and intra modes.

The inherited prediction parameters may include a quadtree structuresplitting encoded video blocks into coding units (CUs) and predictionunits (PUs), sizes of the PUs, and inter and intra prediction modes usedto encode the PUs.

The inherited prediction parameters may further include at least two ormore of a motion vector, motion fields, inter directions, referenceindices, luma intra modes, and chroma intra modes.

The instructions to cause the processor to decode may includeinstructions to cause the processor to identify the one of the otherencoded video blocks based on a generated disparity vector, if the PPIsyntax indicates the prediction parameters are to be inherited from anencoded video block of one of the views of the multiple views that isdifferent from the view of the respective encoded video block.

The instruction to decode may further include instructions to cause theprocessor to decode the respective encoded video block based onprediction parameters that are not inherited if inherited predictionparameters are not indicated.

An apparatus embodiment comprises:

a decoder configured to:

receive an encoded video block of each of

a texture component of a first view of multiple views of multi-viewvideo,

a depth component of the first view,

a texture component of a second view of the multiple views, and

a depth component of the second view;

determine whether each encoded video block is associated with aprediction parameter inheritance syntax (PPI) indicating that therespective encoded video block was encoded based on inherited predictionparameters; and

decode the respective encoded video block based on prediction parametersinherited from a selectable one of the other encoded video blocksindicated in the PPI syntax, if inherited prediction parameters areindicated for the respective encoded video block.

The decoder may be configured to:

decode the respective encoded video block of one of the texture anddepth components of the first view based on prediction parametersinherited from the one of the other encoded video blocks from the otherone of the texture and depth components of the first view; and

decode the respective encoded video block of one of the texture anddepth components of the second view based on prediction parametersinherited from a selectable one of the other encoded video blocks of

-   -   the texture component of the first view    -   the depth component of the first view, and    -   the other one of the texture and depth components of the second        view.

The inherited prediction parameters may include:

inter-prediction modes if the one of the other encoded video blocksincludes coding blocks encoded based on the inter-prediction modes;

intra-prediction modes if the one of the other encoded video blocksincludes coding blocks encoded based on the intra-prediction modes; and

a combination of inter and intra prediction modes if the one of otherencoded video blocks includes coding blocks encoded based on thecombination of the inter and intra modes.

The inherited prediction parameters may include a quadtree structuresplitting encoded video blocks into coding units (CUs) and predictionunits (PUs), sizes of the PUs, and inter and intra prediction modes usedto encode the PUs.

The inherited prediction parameters may further include at least two ormore of a motion vector, motion fields, inter directions, referenceindices, luma intra modes, and chroma intra modes.

The decoder may be further configured to identify the one of the otherencoded video blocks based on a generated disparity vector, if the PPIsyntax indicates the prediction parameters are to be inherited from anencoded video block of one of the views of the multiple views that isdifferent from the view of the respective encoded video block.

The decoder may be further configured to decode the respective encodedvideo block based on prediction parameters that are not inherited ifinherited prediction parameters are not indicated.

The apparatus may further comprise:

communication components to communicate with a communication network;

a user interface;

a processor and memory to communicate with the communication componentsand the user interface; and

a housing to house the decoder, the processor and memory, thecommunication components, and the user interface.

A method embodiment comprises:

receiving an encoded video block of each of

a texture component of a first view of multiple views of multi-viewvideo,

a depth component of the first view,

a texture component of a second view of the multiple views, and

a depth component of the second view;

determining whether each encoded video block is associated with aprediction parameter inheritance syntax (PPI) indicating that therespective encoded video block was encoded based on inherited predictionparameters; and

decoding the respective encoded video block based on predictionparameters inherited from a selectable one of the other encoded videoblocks indicated in the PPI syntax, if inherited prediction parametersare indicated for the respective encoded video block.

The decoding may include:

decoding the respective encoded video block of one of the texture anddepth components of the first view based on prediction parametersinherited from the one of the other encoded video blocks from the otherone of the texture and depth components of the first view; and

decoding the respective encoded video block of one of the texture anddepth components of the second view based on prediction parametersinherited from a selectable one of the other encoded video blocks of

-   -   the texture component of the first view    -   the depth component of the first view, and    -   the other one of the texture and depth components of the second        view.

The inherited prediction parameters may include:

inter-prediction modes if the one of the other encoded video blocksincludes coding blocks encoded based on the inter-prediction modes;

intra-prediction modes if the one of the other encoded video blocksincludes coding blocks encoded based on the intra-prediction modes; and

a combination of inter and intra prediction modes if the one of otherencoded video blocks includes coding blocks encoded based on thecombination of the inter and intra modes.

The inherited prediction parameters may include a quadtree structuresplitting encoded video blocks into coding units (CUs) and predictionunits (PUs), sizes of the PUs, and inter and intra prediction modes usedto encode the PUs.

The inherited prediction parameters may further include at least two ormore of a motion vector, motion fields, inter directions, referenceindices, luma intra modes, and chroma intra modes.

The decoding may include identifying the one of the other encoded videoblocks based on a generated disparity vector, if the PPI syntaxindicates the prediction parameters are to be inherited from an encodedvideo block of one of the views of the multiple views that is differentfrom the view of the respective encoded video block.

The method may further comprise decoding the respective encoded videoblock based on prediction parameters that are not inherited if inheritedprediction parameters are not indicated.

While various embodiments are disclosed herein, it should be understoodthat they have been presented by way of example only, and notlimitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant artthat various changes in form and detail may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the methods and systems disclosedherein. Thus, the breadth and scope of the claims should not be limitedby any of the examples disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A non-transitory computer readable medium encodedwith a computer program, including instructions to cause a processor to:encode a video block from each of a texture component of a first view ofmultiple views of multi-view video, a depth component of the first view,a texture component of a second view of the multiple views, and a depthcomponent of the second view; wherein the instructions to cause theprocessor to encode each video block include instructions to cause theprocessor to encode the respective video block based on a selectable oneof prediction parameters inherited from a selectable one of the othervideo blocks, and prediction parameters that are not inherited from oneof the other video blocks.
 2. The computer readable medium of claim 1,wherein the multi-view video is three-dimensional (3D) multi-view video.3. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the instructions tocause the processor to encode the respective video block based onprediction parameters inherited from one of the other blocks includeinstructions to cause the processor to: encode the respective videoblock of one of the texture and depth components of the first view basedon prediction parameters inherited from the one of the other videoblocks of the other one of the texture and depth components of the firstview; and encode the respective video block of the one of the textureand depth components of the second view based on prediction parametersinherited from a selectable one of the other video blocks of the texturecomponent of the first view the depth component of the first view, andthe other one of the texture and depth components of the second view. 4.The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the instructions toencode include instruction to encode the respective video block based onprediction parameters inherited from one of the other blocks, andwherein the inherited prediction parameters include: inter-predictionmodes if the one of the other video blocks includes coding blocksencoded based on the inter-prediction modes; intra-prediction modes ifthe one of the other video blocks includes coding blocks encoded basedon the intra-prediction modes; and a combination of inter and intraprediction modes if the one of other video blocks includes coding blocksencoded based on the combination of the inter and intra modes.
 5. Thecomputer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the instructions to encodeinclude instructions to the respective video block based on predictionparameters inherited from the one of the other video blocks, and whereinthe inherited prediction parameters include a quadtree structuresplitting video blocks into coding units (CUs) and prediction units(PUs), sizes of the PUs, and inter and intra prediction modes used toencode the PUs.
 6. The computer readable medium of claim 5, wherein theinherited prediction parameters further include at least two or more ofmotion a motion vector, motion fields, inter directions, referenceindices, luma intra modes, and chroma intra modes.
 7. The computerreadable medium of claim 1, further comprising instructions to cause theprocessor to: determine whether to encode the respective video blockbased on inherited prediction parameters; encode the respective videoblock based on the inherited prediction parameters if it is determinedto encode based on inherited prediction parameters; and encode therespective video block based on prediction parameters that are notinherited if it is determined not to encode based on inheritedprediction parameters.
 8. The computer readable medium of claim 1,further comprising instructions to cause the processor to: generate anencoded bitstream comprising encoded video blocks of the texture and thedepth components in each of the multiple views; and embed into theencoded bitstream a prediction parameter inheritance (PPI) syntaxassociated with each of the encoded video blocks that was encoded basedon inherited prediction parameters, the PPI syntax including a PPI flagindicating that the encoded video block was encoded based on inheritedprediction parameters, information from which the one of the other videoblocks from which the prediction parameters were inherited isdeterminable, and the inherited prediction parameters.
 9. A apparatus,comprising: an encoder to encode a video block from each of a texturecomponent of a first view of multiple views of multi-view video, a depthcomponent of the first view, a texture component of a second view of themultiple views, and a depth component of the second view; wherein theencoder is configured to encode each respective video block based on aselectable one of prediction parameters inherited from a selectable oneof the other video blocks, and prediction parameters that are notinherited from one of the other video blocks.
 10. The apparatus of claim9, wherein the multi-view video is three-dimensional (3D) multi-viewvideo.
 11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the encoder is configuredto: encode the respective video block of one of the texture and depthcomponents of the first view based on prediction parameters inheritedfrom the one of the other video blocks of the other one of the textureand depth components of the first view; and encode the respective videoblock of the one of the texture and depth components of the second viewbased on prediction parameters inherited from a selectable one of theother video blocks of the texture component of the first view the depthcomponent of the first view, and the other one of the texture and depthcomponents of the second view.
 12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein theencoder is configured to encode the respective video block based onprediction parameters inherited from the one of the other video blocks,and wherein the inherited prediction parameters include:inter-prediction modes if the one of the other video blocks includescoding blocks encoded by the encoder based on the inter-predictionmodes; intra-prediction modes if the one of the other video blocksincludes coding blocks encoded by the encoder based on theintra-prediction modes; and a combination of inter and intra predictionmodes if the one of other video blocks includes coding blocks encoded bythe encoder based on the combination of the inter and intra modes. 13.The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the encoder is configured to encodethe respective video block based on prediction parameters inherited fromthe one of the other video blocks, and wherein the inherited predictionparameters include a quadtree structure splitting video blocks intocoding units (CUs) and prediction units (PUs), sizes of the PUs, andinter and intra prediction modes used to encode the PUs.
 14. Theapparatus of claim 13, wherein the inherited prediction parametersfurther include at least two or more of motion a motion vector, motionfields, inter directions, reference indices, luma intra modes, andchroma intra modes.
 15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the encoder isfurther configured to: determine whether to encode the respective videoblock based on inherited prediction parameters; encode the respectivevideo block based on the inherited prediction parameters if it isdetermined to encode based on inherited prediction parameters; andencoding the respective video block based on prediction parameters thatare not inherited if it is determined not to encode based on inheritedprediction parameters.
 16. The apparatus of claim 9, the encoder isfurther configured to: generate an encoded bitstream comprising encodedvideo blocks of the texture and the depth components in each of themultiple views; and embed into the encoded bitstream a predictionparameter inheritance (PPI) syntax associated with each of the encodedvideo blocks that was encoded based on inherited prediction parameters,the PPI syntax including a PPI flag indicating that the encoded videoblock was encoded based on inherited prediction parameters, informationfrom which the one of the other video blocks from which the predictionparameters were inherited is determinable, and the inherited predictionparameters.
 17. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:communication components to communicate with a communication network; auser interface; a processor and memory to communicate with thecommunication components and the user interface; and a housing to housethe encoder, the processor and memory, the communication components, andthe user interface.
 18. A method, comprising: encoding a video blockfrom each of a texture component of a first view of multiple views ofmulti-view video, a depth component of the first view, a texturecomponent of a second view of the multiple views, and a depth componentof the second view; wherein the encoding of each video block includesencoding the respective video block based on a selectable one ofprediction parameters inherited from a selectable one of the other videoblocks, and prediction parameters that are not inherited from one of theother video blocks.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the multi-viewvideo is three-dimensional (3D) multi-view video.
 20. The method ofclaim 18, wherein encoding the respective video block includes: encodingthe respective video block of one of the texture and depth components ofthe first view based on prediction parameters inherited from the one ofthe other video blocks of the other one of the texture and depthcomponents of the first view; and encoding the respective video block ofthe one of the texture and depth components of the second view based onprediction parameters inherited from a selectable one of the other videoblocks of the texture component of the first view the depth component ofthe first view, and the other one of the texture and depth components ofthe second view.
 21. The method of claim 18, wherein the encodingincludes encoding the respective video block based on predictionparameters inherited from the one of the other video blocks, and whereinthe inherited prediction parameters include: inter-prediction modes ifthe one of the other video blocks includes coding blocks encoded basedon the inter-prediction modes; intra-prediction modes if the one of theother video blocks includes coding blocks encoded based on theintra-prediction modes; and a combination of inter and intra predictionmodes if the one of other video blocks includes coding blocks encodedbased on the combination of the inter and intra modes.
 22. The method ofclaim 18, wherein the encoding includes encoding the respective videoblock based on prediction parameters inherited from the one of the othervideo blocks, and wherein the inherited prediction parameters include aquadtree structure splitting video blocks into coding units (CUs) andprediction units (PUs), sizes of the PUs, and inter and intra predictionmodes used to encode the PUs.
 23. The method of claim 22, wherein theinherited prediction parameters further include at least two or more ofmotion a motion vector, motion fields, inter directions, referenceindices, luma intra modes, and chroma intra modes.
 24. The method ofclaim 18, further comprising, prior to encoding the respective videoblock: determining whether to encode the respective video block based oninherited prediction parameters; if it is determined to encode based oninherited prediction parameters, then encoding the respective videoblock based on the inherited prediction parameters; and if it isdetermined not to encode based on inherited prediction parameters, thenencoding the respective video block based on prediction parameters thatare not inherited.
 25. The method of claim 18, further comprising:generating an encoded bitstream comprising encoded video blocks of thetexture and the depth components in each of the multiple views; andembedding into the encoded bitstream a prediction parameter inheritance(PPI) syntax associated with each of the encoded video blocks that wasencoded based on inherited prediction parameters, the PPI syntaxincluding a PPI flag indicating that the encoded video block was encodedbased on inherited prediction parameters, information from which the oneof the other video blocks from which the prediction parameters wereinherited is determinable, and the inherited prediction parameters. 26.A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with a computerprogram, including instructions to cause a processor to: receive anencoded video block of each of a texture component of a first view ofmultiple views of multi-view video, a depth component of the first view,a texture component of a second view of the multiple views, and a depthcomponent of the second view; determine whether each encoded video blockis associated with a prediction parameter inheritance syntax (PPI)indicating that the respective encoded video block was encoded based oninherited prediction parameters; and decode the respective encoded videoblock based on prediction parameters inherited from a selectable one ofthe other encoded video blocks indicated in the PPI syntax, if inheritedprediction parameters are indicated for the respective encoded videoblock.
 27. The computer readable medium of claim 26, wherein themulti-view video is three-dimensional (3D) multi-view video.
 28. Thecomputer readable medium of claim 26, wherein the instruction to causethe processor to decode include instructions to cause the processor to:decode the respective encoded video block of one of the texture anddepth components of the first view based on prediction parametersinherited from the one of the other encoded video blocks from the otherone of the texture and depth components of the first view; and decodethe respective encoded video block of one of the texture and depthcomponents of the second view based on prediction parameters inheritedfrom a selectable one of the other encoded video blocks of the texturecomponent of the first view the depth component of the first view, andthe other one of the texture and depth components of the second view.29. The computer readable medium of claim 26, wherein the inheritedprediction parameters include: inter-prediction modes if the one of theother encoded video blocks includes coding blocks encoded based on theinter-prediction modes; intra-prediction modes if the one of the otherencoded video blocks includes coding blocks encoded based on theintra-prediction modes; and a combination of inter and intra predictionmodes if the one of other encoded video blocks includes coding blocksencoded based on the combination of the inter and intra modes.
 30. Thecomputer readable medium of claim 26, wherein the inherited predictionparameters include a quadtree structure splitting encoded video blocksinto coding units (CUs) and prediction units (PUs), sizes of the PUs,and inter and intra prediction modes used to encode the PUs.
 31. Thecomputer readable medium of claim 30, wherein the inherited predictionparameters further include at least two or more of a motion vector,motion fields, inter directions, reference indices, luma intra modes,and chroma intra modes.
 32. The computer readable medium of claim 26,wherein the instructions to cause the processor to decode includeinstructions to cause the processor to identify the one of the otherencoded video blocks based on a generated disparity vector, if the PPIsyntax indicates the prediction parameters are to be inherited from anencoded video block of one of the views of the multiple views that isdifferent from the view of the respective encoded video block.
 33. Thecomputer readable medium of claim 26, wherein the instruction to decodefurther include instructions to cause the processor to decode therespective encoded video block based on prediction parameters that arenot inherited if inherited prediction parameters are not indicated. 34.A apparatus, comprising: a decoder configured to: receive an encodedvideo block of each of a texture component of a first view of multipleviews of multi-view video, a depth component of the first view, atexture component of a second view of the multiple views, and a depthcomponent of the second view; determine whether each encoded video blockis associated with a prediction parameter inheritance syntax (PPI)indicating that the respective encoded video block was encoded based oninherited prediction parameters; and decode the respective encoded videoblock based on prediction parameters inherited from a selectable one ofthe other encoded video blocks indicated in the PPI syntax, if inheritedprediction parameters are indicated for the respective encoded videoblock.
 35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the multi-view video isthree-dimensional (3D) multi-view video.
 36. The apparatus of claim 34,wherein the decoder is configured to: decode the respective encodedvideo block of one of the texture and depth components of the first viewbased on prediction parameters inherited from the one of the otherencoded video blocks from the other one of the texture and depthcomponents of the first view; and decode the respective encoded videoblock of one of the texture and depth components of the second viewbased on prediction parameters inherited from a selectable one of theother encoded video blocks of the texture component of the first viewthe depth component of the first view, and the other one of the textureand depth components of the second view.
 37. The apparatus of claim 34,wherein the inherited prediction parameters include: inter-predictionmodes if the one of the other encoded video blocks includes codingblocks encoded based on the inter-prediction modes; intra-predictionmodes if the one of the other encoded video blocks includes codingblocks encoded based on the intra-prediction modes; and a combination ofinter and intra prediction modes if the one of other encoded videoblocks includes coding blocks encoded based on the combination of theinter and intra modes.
 38. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein theinherited prediction parameters include a quadtree structure splittingencoded video blocks into coding units (CUs) and prediction units (PUs),sizes of the PUs, and inter and intra prediction modes used to encodethe PUs.
 39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the inherited predictionparameters further include at least two or more of a motion vector,motion fields, inter directions, reference indices, luma intra modes,and chroma intra modes.
 40. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein thedecoder is further configured to identify the one of the other encodedvideo blocks based on a generated disparity vector, if the PPI syntaxindicates the prediction parameters are to be inherited from an encodedvideo block of one of the views of the multiple views that is differentfrom the view of the respective encoded video block.
 41. The apparatusof claim 34, wherein the decoder is further configured to decode therespective encoded video block based on prediction parameters that arenot inherited if inherited prediction parameters are not indicated. 42.The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising: communication componentsto communicate with a communication network; a user interface; aprocessor and memory to communicate with the communication componentsand the user interface; and a housing to house the decoder, theprocessor and memory, the communication components, and the userinterface.
 43. A method, comprising: receiving an encoded video block ofeach of a texture component of a first view of multiple views ofmulti-view video, a depth component of the first view, a texturecomponent of a second view of the multiple views, and a depth componentof the second view; determining whether each encoded video block isassociated with a prediction parameter inheritance syntax (PPI)indicating that the respective encoded video block was encoded based oninherited prediction parameters; and decoding the respective encodedvideo block based on prediction parameters inherited from a selectableone of the other encoded video blocks indicated in the PPI syntax, ifinherited prediction parameters are indicated for the respective encodedvideo block.
 44. The method of claim 43, wherein the multi-view video isthree-dimensional (3D) multi-view video.
 45. The method of claim 43,wherein the decoding includes: decoding the respective encoded videoblock of one of the texture and depth components of the first view basedon prediction parameters inherited from the one of the other encodedvideo blocks from the other one of the texture and depth components ofthe first view; and decoding the respective encoded video block of oneof the texture and depth components of the second view based onprediction parameters inherited from a selectable one of the otherencoded video blocks of the texture component of the first view thedepth component of the first view, and the other one of the texture anddepth components of the second view.
 46. The method of claim 43, whereinthe inherited prediction parameters include: inter-prediction modes ifthe one of the other encoded video blocks includes coding blocks encodedbased on the inter-prediction modes; intra-prediction modes if the oneof the other encoded video blocks includes coding blocks encoded basedon the intra-prediction modes; and a combination of inter and intraprediction modes if the one of other encoded video blocks includescoding blocks encoded based on the combination of the inter and intramodes.
 47. The method of claim 43, wherein the inherited predictionparameters include a quadtree structure splitting encoded video blocksinto coding units (CUs) and prediction units (PUs), sizes of the PUs,and inter and intra prediction modes used to encode the PUs.
 48. Themethod of claim 47, wherein the inherited prediction parameters furtherinclude at least two or more of a motion vector, motion fields, interdirections, reference indices, luma intra modes, and chroma intra modes.49. The method of claim 43, wherein the decoding includes identifyingthe one of the other encoded video blocks based on a generated disparityvector, if the PPI syntax indicates the prediction parameters are to beinherited from an encoded video block of one of the views of themultiple views that is different from the view of the respective encodedvideo block.
 50. The method of claim 43, further comprising decoding therespective encoded video block based on prediction parameters that arenot inherited if inherited prediction parameters are not indicated.